Pet Health Insurance Is Worth It! | Dr. Amanda Hensley #231
Dr. Amanda Hensley says every pet should have pet insurance, in part because you can “pay ahead” on your likely $10K in unexpected pet health expenses.
Taking care of a dog or other pet adds up over time. In addition to the daily overhead expenses of food and shelter, there’s the yearly expenses of routine vet care. But what about other expenses? Dr. Amanda Hensley estimates that on average, there is about $10,000 in “unanticipated” medical expenses over the course of a lifetime.
Pet insurance can help cover those costs – and is probably going to cost you less over the lifetime of your pet than going without it. So says our guest Dr. Amanda Hensley, who says she will “die on this hill: every pet should have pet insurance.”
Dr. Hensley explains the difference between wellness plans and accident and illness plans, who offers them, how much they cost … and whether you should get one, the other, or both.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Show:
Article about Pet Health Insurance: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/stress-and-finances/pet-health-insurance/
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance: https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/
Fetch Pet Insurance: https://www.fetchpet.com/
Dr. Jules Benson with Nationwide Insurance podcast episodes:
https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/stats-and-facts/dog-cancer-risk-linked-to-size-dr-jules-benson/
Related Links:
Tesoro’s True Tail About Getting $60,000 Covered by Insurance! https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/stress-and-finances/how-tesoro-spent-60000-on-dog-cancer-treatment-diana-gerba/
All About CareCredit: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/stress-and-finances/carecredit-for-dogs/
The Costs of Cancer Treatments: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/stress-and-finances/cost-of-cancer-treatment-for-dogs/
Chapters:
00:00 Start
00:39 Every Pet Should Be Insured
01:42 Wellness Plans and What They Cover
04:54 Expect the Unexpected, Especially Cancer
07:50 How Pet Insurance Plans Work: Reimbursements, Co-Pays, Premiums, Deductibles
12:35 Dr. Hensley’s Favorite Providers
14:40 Pre-Existing Conditions (Like Cancer) May Get Partial Coverage
18:11 Pet Insurance Saves Money Over Time
21:10 When Is It Too Late to Buy Pet Insurance
25:21 The Realistic Health Cost of Dog Ownership Over Time: $10K
28:36 Crazy True Tail About Pet Insurance Covering Almost $18,000
31:06 Pet Insurance Is Worth It, Will Get Used, and Gives Peace of Mind
32:30 Most Insurable Dog Breeds
34:30 How to Choose a Policy and What Questions to Ask
40:05 Red Flags
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Get to know today's guest, Amanda Hensley, DVM, MPH, CCRT, CVA: https://www.dogcancer.com/people/amanda-hensley-dvm-mph-ccrt-cva/
For more details, articles, podcast episodes, and quality education, go to the episode page: https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/
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Amanda Hensley
Veterinarian / Writer
Dr. Amanda Hensley is an adventurous scientist, as at home in a barn as on an ice shelf. A Virginia native, she earned her DVM from Ross University and completed her clinical studies at Virginia Tech. She is certified in rehabilitation (CCRT), acupuncture (CVA), and the Human-Animal bond. She’s also studied Chinese herbs and food therapy. Most recently, her intellectual voraciousness led her to earn a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the Colorado School of Public Health.
Dr. Hensley has worked in a mixed animal practice in Wyoming and in small animal clinics in Colorado. Most of her veterinary career has been in her own practice as a rehab and acupuncture specialist. Passionate about science communication, she recently shifted her career to focus on medical writing.
On the human side, Dr. Hensley is a fearless leader in STEMM initiatives. In 2018, she was one of 100 women selected for the 4th cohort of Homeward Bound, a year-long leadership and communication training that culminated in a three-week voyage to Antarctica.
When she’s not trekking around the world, Dr. Hensley enjoys her thriving gardens and endless woodworking projects at her Colorado home.
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